2-1B (Surgical Droid) - TAC - Basic (08 06)

Character Profile

Model

Surgical droid

Status

Works in an Imperial rehabilitation center

Instruments of Choice

Various surgical appendages

Characteristic

Designed for surgery, diagnosis, and treatment

Palpatine takes the gravely wounded Darth Vader to Coruscant. A team of surgical droids, including a 2-1B series droid, uses diagnostic and surgical equipment to treat Vader's injuries, attach mechanical limbs, and encase him in the black armored suit that he'll wear the rest of his life.

It is very interesting
when a character (or a version) of a character itself is non-canon in
the Star Wars universe (without the aid of an Expanded Universe tale's
indifference to plunder the films of their original plot). 2-1B (Surgical
Droid) from Star
Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith is recognized by this full
name while 2-1B from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is simply known as
that, 2-1B. And Wookieepedia has them listed under two separate entries
with nearly no reference to each other at all. We find this very bizarre
and we don't understand why there aren't more factors that tie them together
better or why 2-1B from Episode V is simply "2-1B" and 2-1B from Episode
III is "2-1B (Surgical Droid)". It is quite perplexing, especially since these are two unique models of medical/surgical droids. And since both
droids look nearly identical to each other besides some small differences,
we are further confused that they are identified as such. Perhaps there
isn't a firm definition for both droids at Lucasfilm, maybe they don't
even know. But we can tell you that the action figure is an accomplishment
that elates us in ways we cannot explain.

The action figure is
an answer to prayer. But collectors were initially critical of it. Many
collectors immediately noticed the diminished size of this figure to
the previous Episode V incarnations. When compared against each other,
it is evident that the new figure is quite smaller. But Hasbro defended
the figure and explained that it is true to scale to all the recent Star
Wars action figures. We agree. When we watched the pivotal "Franken-Vader"
scene over again carefully, we noticed just how small in stature 2-1B (Surgical Droid) indeed
is. What's more, Hasbro has managed to incorporate an unprecedented
amount of articulation into a figure that was smaller, thinner and overall
more delicate that the previous releases. Hasbro managed to squeeze in
11 points of articulation into this wonderful figure and we have to say
that we are quite a bit more than just impressed with this feat. And
the figure has multiple ball-jointed points, not simple swivel joints.
It is our hope that the same approach is used to design the 2-1B from
Episode V. The biggest difference between the droids (Episode III versus
Episode V) is the left arm. The 2-1B from Episode III has a needle on
the end of his arm while the Episode V version has two claw hands. There
are also some aesthetic design differences on the body but for all intents
and purposes, the characters don't differ much beyond that.

We are actually surprised
how long it took Hasbro to knock out 2-1B (Surgical Droid) (Editor's
Note: and FX-6) and get [their] deserved place in the basic
figure line. Late is better than never for us, but we find it particularly
odd that the Vader's Medical Droid (Chopper Droid) from the 2005 Revenge
Of The Sith line
got top billing and was released first. That medical droid was the weakest
in our opinion. (Editor's Note: But we want to make it clear that
we are extremely happy to have all three now.) 2-1B (Surgical Droid)
is probably one of the finest figures of the 30 (77-07) line and
perhaps one of the best figures based on Episode III we have ever received
from Hasbro. Not only does it achieve a whole new level of what is possible
for authenticity accomplishments, the color is perfectly matched to the
film character as well. Colored in a beautiful metallic and very light
grayish blue, the action figure looks exactly like what a droid should
be. Some of the parts seem too thick in places, but we realize that there
are some limitations on what Hasbro can accomplish. But these limitations
should not be interpreted as weaknesses. Hasbro aced this action figure
and we really don't expect a better version in the near future. We give
2-1B (Surgical Droid) two big thumb's up and we will hope for a new take
on 2-1B from Episode V. (And we hope Hasbro utilizes this mold!)